Three Years of Reconstruction Special You Can Obtain the Previous Editions of ‘Rebuilding Nepal’ from NRA Office at Singha Durbar

Three years of reconstruction special You can obtain the previous editions of ‘Rebuilding Nepal’ from NRA office at Singha Durbar.

Cover: Jagat Bahadur Khatri and Chitra Kumari Khatri of Singati, Dolakha. Khatri is the first beneficiary to sign and receive the government’s private housing reconstruction grant. Photo: Chandra Shekhar Karki THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

NRA Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyewali addressing a press meet to mark the completion of the NRA’s three years of establishment on December 25, 2018. 77% in private housing, 80% in schools and 95% progress in public buildings

The National Reconstruction Author- with 742,135 beneficiaries, out of which in the rebuilding of health institutions, 95 ity (NRA) has publicized the progress 337,319 have completed rebuilding their percent in government buildings, 54 per- made in the post-earthquake reconstruc- houses while 233,343 houses are currently cent in security sector buildings and 68 tion and rehabilitation during three years under construction. percent in the cultural heritage sites. of its establishment and also unveiled the Similarly, 80 percent progress has been “We are on the right track to complete plans for the next two years of its tenure made in the reconstruction of the educa- the reconstruction of private housing during a press conference organized in tional institutions. As per the available within this fiscal year,” said Sushil Gyewa- Kathmandu on December 25. data, 55 percent of the schools have al- li, Chief Executive Officer of the NRA. The NRA has informed that there has ready been reconstructed while 25 percent “As many structures are currently under been 77 percent progress in the recon- of them are currently under construction. construction, we are working towards struction of private housing, out of which Out of the 7,553 damaged schools, 4,172 achieving the goal of completing the re- 45 percent houses have already been com- have been reconstructed while 1,921 are building task within the next two years.” pleted rebuilding while 32 percent houses under construction. CEO Gyewali told journalists that the are currently under construction. As per the data available on recon- NRA is also giving utmost priority to the The NRA has signed the govern- structed and under construction struc- economic and social rehabilitation, along ment’s private housing grant agreement tures, 66 percent progress has been made with the reconstruction of houses.

Rebuilding Nepal 1 Message from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Contribute from respective sectors in reconstruction The post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery was never meant to be a cake walk. It was a challenging endeavor. But we were able to address all the challenges thanks to our clear vision and planning, which continue to guide us towards achieving our goal.

The National Reconstruction Author- of the earthquake survivors. Never before ity (NRA) has completed the first three had our generation dealt with a disaster of years of its establishment, and is entering this magnitude, so we lacked experience of the fourth year. On this occasion, I would spearheading a post-disaster recovery cam- like to extend my best wishes to everyone paign of this scale. But lack of experience associated with the NRA. I would like to was never meant to be an excuse, and we thank everyone involved in rebuilding and wanted to deliver results at the earliest. The restoring the structures destroyed and dam- post-earthquake reconstruction could not aged by the 25 April 2015 earthquake and gain momentum immediately due to institu- its aftershocks. Also, I would like to ask the tional constraints and the lack of adequate NRA to complete the remaining work of resources. The absence of elected represen- the post-earthquake reconstruction and re- tatives of people at local levels and the lack covery project in time. of clear policies and procedures also slowed The NRA was established on the ba- the pace of reconstruction. Therefore, the sis of consensus of all the political parties, initial results of reconstruction work were and with the objective of rebuilding the not satisfactory. But reconstruction re- earthquake-damaged structures in a better, mained a top priority of the government. sustainable, stronger and planned way and As a result, things have changed by the end delivering social justice by relocating, reset- of the third year of the NRA. tling and rehabilitating the earthquake-dis- Our sense of urgency Having lived in tents and then tempo- placed families. In the past three years, in- was not just guided rary shelters, hundreds of thousands of frastructures like private houses, educational Nepalis displaced by the earthquake are institutions, health facilities, cultural heri- by the duty of a moving into newly-built and safe houses. tage, government office buildings, security government, we were Thousands of students are now studying forces’ buildings, roads and drinking water driven to address the in better and safer class rooms. Many villag- have been rebuilt. With the government es have got a face-lift in the course of re- grants and technical support, 77% of the humanitarian needs construction, and now look more beautiful earthquake-damaged houses are already re- of the earthquake than they did before the earthquake. The built or being rebuilt and people have taken survivors. process to relocate seismically hazardous ownership of this reconstruction campaign. and landslide-prone villages and develop in- We consider the progress made so far in the tegrated settlements is under way. Hundreds post-earthquake reconstruction and recov- people made homeless by the earthquake of thousands of the earthquake-damaged ery an important achievement. Similarly, a as soon as possible. We also wanted to structures are being rebuilt better, stron- remarkable progress has been made in re- complete reconstruction of the earth- ger and earthquake-resistant. The progress building schools, health facilities and heri- quake-damaged structures as soon as possi- made in the post-earthquake recovery and tage. ble. Our sense of urgency was not just guid- reconstruction is not just the result of the We wanted to provide permanent hous- ed by the duty of a government, we were government and government agencies ing for hundreds of thousands of Nepali driven to address the humanitarian needs alone. It was made possible also because of

2 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli presiding over the Steering Committee meeting of the National Reconstruction Authority in September 2018. NRA the invaluable support of the international There are still challenges for recon- community, donor agencies, NGOs, various struction of private houses, schools and organizations and local communities. The whole nation is heritage and the socio-economic rehabilita- The post-earthquake reconstruction united to rise from tion of the earthquake survivors. It is also and recovery was never meant to be a cake the rubble and build a our responsibility to address the specific walk. It was a challenging endeavor because needs of the earthquake-affected elderly the earthquake survivors had high expec- new, better, stronger people and physically disabled persons. I tations from the government, and a lot of and safer country. would like to urge all to support the NRA hurdles needed to be removed in the course We are committed to tackle these challenges, and complete its of the post-disaster recovery. But we were mission in time. able to address all the challenges thanks to to accomplish this At the end, I would like to urge all my our clear vision and planning, which contin- mission at the Nepali brothers and sisters to prove that ue to guide us towards achieving our goal. a disaster is also an opportunity to build We have always given utmost importance earliest. back better. I would like to appeal to all the to collective and consistent efforts, resource Nepali people to contribute from their re- management and their effective mobiliza- We all Nepalis are together when it spective sectors to the post-earthquake re- tion. We have always viewed the post-earth- comes to the post-earthquake reconstruc- construction and recovery and disaster risk quake reconstruction as the common chal- tion and recovery. The whole nation is unit- reduction, and help the ‘Prosperous Nepal, lenge and agenda of the nation. This is the ed to rise from the rubble and build a new, Happy Nepalis’ campaign. reason behind the decision to have the lead- better, stronger and safer country. We are er of the main opposition as Vice Chair of committed to accomplish this mission at Message from PM KP Sharma Oli on the occasion of the Steering Committee of the NRA. the earliest. NRA anniversary - from Gorkhapatra

Rebuilding Nepal 3 Progress so far and future action plan Political transition and instability certainly slowed down the pace of reconstruction, but we have made a lot of progress in the first three years of the NRA.The policy, legal and organizational structures adopted by the NRA have begun to yield positive results.

Sushil Gyewali a five-month-long blockade of Nepal’s southern border points badly impacted The National Reconstruction Authori- the post-earthquake recovery process. The ty (NRA), which was established after the NRA was first established through an or- 25 April 2015 earthquake as a legally man- dinance within the first three months of dated agency for leading the post-disaster the earthquake, but a political oversight recovery and reconstruction, has complet- allowed the ordinance to expire. The NRA ed three years. got dissolved even before its office was set The earthquake that claimed 8,790 up. lives, wounded 22,300 people, destroyed It took another five months for the and damaged over 800,000 houses, 7,553 government to re-establish a legally man- schools, 1,197 health facilities, 415 gov- dated agency for the earthquake recovery ernment buildings, 753 archeologically and reconstruction. The current NRA was important monuments and 383 structures established on 27 December 2015, eight owned by security agencies was the biggest months after the earthquake. When I took disaster ever to hit Nepal, after the 1934 charge of the NRA as its CEO exactly earthquake. It destroyed and damaged in- three years ago, I was confronted with a frastructures worth Rs. 7 billion, and af- challenge to start reconstruction immedi- fected 8 million Nepali people – nearly one ately, but I did not have the required staffs, third of the population. As the NRA en- logistics and guidelines to support me. The ters its fourth year, it would be important As the NRA enters NRA was yet to take full shape. to discuss the progress made by the agency The parliament identified reconstruc- responsible for the biggest reconstruction its fourth year, it tion as a national priority area, setting a project Nepal has ever undertaken. So, this would be important goal to accomplish the post-earthquake re- article is an effort to examine the NRA’s to discuss the prog- covery in just five years. To help the NRA achievements so far, hurdles and challeng- accomplish its mission, the House passed es faced by it in its first three years and its ress made by the a specific law and set up high-level insti- future action plan. agency responsible tutional mechanisms. It formed a Steering for the biggest re- Committee led by the Prime Minister. The Reconstruction amidst political transi- Committee, which has a leader of the main tion construction proj- opposition as its Vice Chair and ministers When the 7.6 magnitude earthquake ect Nepal has ever and Chief Secretary as its members, pro- struck Nepal, the country was passing vides guidance for the NRA on policy, pro- through the most complicated phase of undertaken. gram and budget. Also, there is National its painful political transition. The Interim Reconstruction Advisory Council chaired Constitution of 2007 was still in place, and squabbling political parties to show flexi- by the Prime Minister, which has the main major political parties were yet to forge a bility and ink a deal on the thorniest issues opposition leader as Vice Chair and Parlia- consensus on the key contents of the new of the constitution. The tragedy also unit- mentary Party leaders of all parties in the constitution. This led to frequent changes ed the nation in rescue and relief efforts. Federal Parliament, ex-PMs and all minis- of government, and it would be unfair to As a result, the seemingly endless ters as its members. It seems the parliament evaluate the NRA’s performance without process of drafting the new Constitution envisioned such a broad advisory council considering how it was rocked by political was completed less than five months af- to protect the NRA from being a casualty instability. But the earthquake turned out ter the earthquake, and we were able to of political instability. But the parliament’s to be a blessing in disguise in terms of fulfill our primary responsibility of rescue visionary provision did not ensure stability ending political transition as it galvanized and relief in just three months. However, in the leadership of NRA. Frequent chang-

4 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

es of government also resulted in frequent able to accelerate the pace of rebuilding changes of the NRA’s CEO which slowed private houses, relocating villages, devel- down the pace of the reconstruction. We have decided to oping integrated resettlement plans and There was a leadership vacuum at the provide infrastructure restoring heritage villages. local level when the NRA was set up. After development grants More than half of the earthquake-dam- the promulgation of the new Constitution, aged school buildings have already been re- the government gave priority to conduct- to encourage built. As of now, reconstruction of 55 per- ing the election of three tiers of govern- communities to adopt cent of the quake-damaged schools have ments. Now, a government process is integrated settlement been completed and 25 percent of school underway to adjust civil servants to imple- buildings are under construction. Similar- ment federalism. These elections and the plans. ly, 54 percent of the earthquake-damaged government staff adjustment process have health facilities have been rebuilt. We have also hampered the earthquake recovery. approved 29 integrated settlement plans, completed reconstruction of 60 percent which are now being implemented. Be- of government buildings, 27 percent of Current situation of reconstruction sides, a master plan is being drawn up to army and police buildings and 27 percent Political transition and instability cer- restore 52 ancient and indigenous settle- of monuments. We have set a goal to re- tainly slowed the pace of reconstruction, ments in and outside the Kathmandu Val- build 70 percent schools, 65 percent health but we have made a lot of progress in the ley without tampering with their original facilities, 50 percent heritage, 75 percent first three years of NRA. The policy, legal and unique architecture. We have decided government buildings, 60 percent security and organizational structures adopted by to provide infrastructure development buildings and 50 percent of roads within NRA have begun to yield positive results. grants to encourage communities to adopt this fiscal year, and the remaining works As of now, 45 percent of the quake-dam- integrated settlement plans. We have also will be completed in the next two years aged houses have been rebuilt, and another decided to provide top-up grants for peo- period. 32 percent of houses are under construc- ple to preserve uniqueness of their ancient tion. and indigenous settlements. Adapting to federal structure and sus- We had conducted a geological survey We have also addressed the problems tainability of reconstruction to assess vulnerable settlements, which un- faced by those families whose earth- As per the provisions made by the derscored a need to relocate 3,975 earthquake-damaged houses were on the land Legislative Parliament, the NRA must quake-affected families living in 272 land- they did not own legally. They can claim complete the earthquake recovery and slide-prone sites. Of them, 1,963 families housing grants by submitting recommen- reconstruction tasks within five years of have already been given lands in safe areas dation letters by local governments, or any its establishment. The NRA can seek a to rebuild their houses. We have already other evidence. Therefore, we have been maximum of a one-year extension. The

Private House Reconstruction Progress

700000

600000

500000

Private Houses Private 400000 of Number 300000

200000

100000

0 December January February March April May June July August September October November December

Year 2017/18

Start Reconstruciton Applied for 2nd Tranche Approved for 2nd Tranche Applied for 3rd Tranche Approved for 3rd Tranche

Rebuilding Nepal 5 Legislative Parliament has recently passed el reconstruction coordination committees a little progress in terms of social and eco- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to monitor and coordinate reconstruction nomic recovery. Hundreds of thousands Act 2017, envisaging an agency for disas- works, ensuring effective participation of of earthquake-affected families have al- ter preparedness and rescue, relief and the elected representatives of people be- ready moved into newly-built and safe recovery in the aftermath of future disas- longing to all the three levels of legislature homes, and hundreds of thousands more ters. In the first three years of the NRA, all in the reconstruction process. Also, com- will complete rebuilding their houses with- the three levels of government – federal, munity-level reconstruction committees in this year. provincial and local – have come into ex- are being formed in every village and ward The earthquake not just destroyed istence. In this changed context, the NRA committee to facilitate post-disaster recon- their houses but it also affected their live- must gradually transfer its experience, struction. Such committees will capacitate lihoods and access to health and educa- knowledge and skills to provincial and local communities for disaster prepared- tion. They need support to rebuild their local governments, their local wings and ness as well as post-disaster rescue, relief earthquake-damaged livelihood support local communities for the sustainability of and reconstruction works. system. Thus, the government has recently reconstruction. All the legal and policy frameworks, approved procedures to provide six types Local governments are fundamentally guidelines, procedures and organizational of concessional business loans, targeting responsible for private houses, town plan- structures that we developed for rescue, re- those earthquake-affected families that are ning, schools, health facilities, local heri- lief and reconstruction in the aftermath of in dire need of livelihood support. We are tages and infrastructures under the new the earthquake as well as our reconstruc- also unveiling programs necessary for im- Constitution. And the newly-enacted Act proving health and education services at about disaster preparedness requires all the the recently-rebuilt health facilities, schools three levels of government to form spe- The government has and colleges. We have identified 18,000 cial structures under the proposed disaster earthquake-affected families that only management agency. Considering these recently approved comprise under-15 years children, physi- new government structures and legal in- procedures to cally-disabled persons or elderly persons struments, the NRA has given importance provide six types above 70 years as the most vulnerable co- to collaboration with provincial and local hort, and we are unveiling special social se- governments. of concessional curity schemes for them. To make this hap- In this context, the NRA has begun business loans, pen, we are mobilizing business promotion transferring resources, rights and respon- targeting those experts and social mobilizers at every local sibilities for mobilizing housing grants, governments. collecting and addressing grievances about earthquake-affected We will now give priority to those her- reconstruction, relocating seismically-vul- families that are itage sites and ancient settlements that lag nerable villages and restoring local heritage in dire need of behind others in reconstruction. We are sites and infrastructure to the local govern- also implementing a plan to preserve our ments of the earthquake-affected districts. livelihood support. ancient monuments. For this, the NRA has already signed agree- We are conducting a mid-term review ments with local governments in many of our five-year earthquake reconstruction earthquake-affected districts. The NRA tion experience are being documented. We and recovery plan, and we are also prepar- aims to sign agreements with all the local are also producing audio and visual mate- ing an action plan to achieve our remaining governments of the earthquake-affected rials for this purpose, and we want to keep targets within the remaining period. Our districts by mid-January 2019. Also, local them safe by establishing earthquake me- action plan will be presented in the next reconstruction coordination committees morial, museum and research center. Fu- meeting of the Steering Committee. are being formed in all the earthquake-af- ture generations will greatly benefit from The political transition and instability fected municipalities and rural municipali- the documentation and preservation of certainly slowed the pace of reconstruc- ties. Such committees will be led by mayors our experience, knowledge and expertise. tion, but the progress that we have made and rural municipality chairs, and they will We will hand over all the useful informa- so far is satisfactory. By implementing our coordinate and monitor all the reconstruction about reconstruction to the local gov- action plan with the support from all levels tion activities by the NRA or any other ernments. We will also support for devel- of government, agencies and stakeholders, agencies in their areas. oping land use plans based on multi-hazard Nepal can proudly showcase a successful The NRA aims to collaborate with the mapping. model of reconstruction to future gen- Disaster Management Authority, which erations of Nepali people and the entire will be formed under the newly-enacted At the end world. disaster management act, and its wings at Our vision of reconstruction is not just provincial, municipal and rural municipali- physical reconstruction but also social and Sushil Gyewali is Chief Executive Officer of the ty levels. We are also setting up district-lev- economic recovery as well. We have made National Reconstruction Authority (NRA)

6 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

Database management and future roadmap The database prepared on the basis of the beneficiary survey was important not just for distributing housing grants but also for mapping hazards and preparing for future disasters.

Dr. Chandra Bahadur Shrestha ment Authority under the Home Min- istry. The authority must have its own Three years and eight months have information database if it is to effec- passed after the earthquake. It has also tively manage disasters. If we can link been three years after the National this information database with the pro- Reconstruction Authority (NRA) was cess of approving housing designs and established. The first three years of registering births, deaths and marriag- post-earthquake reconstruction were es at local levels, we will have a very very challenging, but it was also an ex- comprehensive information system. citing experience. Every birth registration or approval One of the most important of housing design is entered into the achievements of this period was the database, we will always have an up-to- completion of a beneficiary survey. date information system, which will be The survey had already started when effective in disaster risk reduction and the reconstruction campaign took off preparedness. in December 2016. It was conducted as A database of private houses would per an agreement with the World Bank, be useful for developing land use and and it was important in preparing a list The database will development plans as well. A lot of hu- of earthquake-affected families entitled man settlements are located in seismi- to housing grants. later be handed cally hazardous and landslide-prone ar- The one-year-long survey was con- over to the local eas, which need to be relocated to safer ducted at a very trying time. Local elec- governments, and a places. In most places, houses are not tions were yet to take place, and local in a cluster. They are scattered around bodies were led by the government similar survey will mountainous slopes, and it would be an staff that mostly stayed outside their not be needed in uphill task to deliver government ser- duty stations. The survey required a the event of another vices to every doorstep. huge number of engineers, which we Delivering services to such settle- did not have at that time. The ques- disaster. ments would be costly. For example, if tionnaire of the survey was ambitious the per capita investment of a drinking in the sense that it aimed to exact var- Despite all its shortcomings, the water project is Rs. 5,000 in a cluster of ied data like extents of damage and so- beneficiary survey was a cornerstone houses in a hilly district, this goes up cio-economic condition of beneficia- of post-earthquake reconstruction. to Rs. 30,000 in a remote place where ries. Interviewing each family needed The database prepared on the basis of houses are scattered. If we can have a three hours on an average. Although the results of the survey was important database of private houses, their types details of damages were collected from not just for distributing housing grants and geographical locations, we can beneficiaries themselves, the survey- but also for mapping hazards and pre- identify and tackle challenges in service ors’ conclusion regarding the extent of paring for future disasters. The data- delivery. We can find out ways to im- damage was trusted by the NRA. So base will later be handed over to the prove service delivery, and design and the list of earthquake-affected families local governments, and a similar survey implement development plans. Such a entitled to housing grants was disputed will not be needed in the event of an- planned development will reduce the by thousands of families. They claimed other disaster. But what is important is extent of damage caused by future di- their houses were also damaged, but to develop such a detailed information sasters, and the country will embark on the surveyors did not include them in system even in the 44 districts unaffect- a journey to prosperity. the list of beneficiaries. The NRA col- ed by the 2015 earthquake. lected grievances about this issue from To deal with future disasters, the Dr. Chandra Bahadur Shrestha is as many as 200,000 families, and we are government must strengthen the ca- member of the Executive Committee of the National still in the process of clearing them. pacity of National Disaster Manage- Reconstruction Authority

Rebuilding Nepal 7 Vulnerable and integrated settlement development program The fact that the beneficiaries of earthquake-affected private housing reconstruction signed agreements to reconstruct their houses at the same places where their previous houses fell down shows that they want to settle down in their own land.

Dhruba Prasad Sharma maining beneficiaries, budget and authority has been given to the district offices to Almost 9,000 people lost their lives manage plots for the beneficiary families and more than 22,000 were injured when within the end of present fiscal year. the massive earthquake struck central Ne- pal in April 2015. Almost 900,000 hous- Alternative arrangement es were completely or partially damaged, The NRA has been given to provide hundreds of heritage sites suffered dam- the government or degraded forest land ages while thousands of schools, health to beneficiaries who could not arrange institutions and the government struc- land on their own with Rs. 200,000 pro- tures were damaged. The total loss from vided to them by the NRA; or the govern- the earthquake was assessed to be about ment should acquire land on their behalf Rs. 7 billion. The number of displaced and distribute it to them. Such authority settlements was initially estimated to be has been used to develop construction 475, but later increased to 1,100 by the plots in Bosimpa of Dolakha district and time the study concluded. The Post Di- Laprak of Gorkha district, and such plots saster Recovery Framework (PDRF) has are in the process of distribution to the estimated the overall reconstruction cost beneficiaries. Under such provision, ben- to be about Rs. 938 billion. eficiaries in mountainous region will get plots of 10 aanas (318 square meters) Vulnerable settlements For those who each, those in hilly regions will get plots Geologists were mobilized in the wanted to move to of 6 aanas (190 square meters) and those course of studying the vulnerable set- new settlements in the Kathmandu Valley will get plots of tlements. The reconstruction of private 4 aanas (127 square meters) each. housing is going on in settlements of voluntarily, the NRA first category by providing them grants has implemented Integrated settlements of Rs. 300,000 in three tranches, based a guideline The fact that the beneficiaries of earth- on the report that those settlements were quake-affected private housing reconstruc- safe. The settlements in the second cat- on integrated tion signed agreements to reconstruct egory were inhabitable after some main- settlement their houses at the same places where their tenance works, so budget was allocated previous houses fell down shows that they for maintenance work and the erstwhile development since want to settle down in their own land. It Department of Soil Conservation and 2073 BS. appears that they expressed interest to con- Watershed Management and Department tinue staying in their own land giving im- of Water Induced Disaster Management beneficiaries of the vulnerable -settle portance to their art, culture, tradition and were doing the maintenance work. Now ments, and provision has been made to the way of living. For those who wanted that the departments have been merged, provide them a grant of up to Rs. 200,000 to move to new settlements voluntarily, the the works will continue under one man- to purchase a plot in inhabitable land. NRA has implemented a guideline on inte- agement. There are about 4,700 families in this cat- grated settlement development since 2073 The settlements and households egory and about 50 percent of them have BS, and it has recently been approved it in the third category were defined as already been managed. To manage the re- after revision. According to the guideline,

8 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

ten or more families can come to the inte- placed families. The option given for the history of reconstruction. Concluding the grated settlement plan. The NRA has tak- management of resettlement is anoth- resettlement is not only a necessity of the en a policy to support the development of er important aspect of the reconstruc- day, but also its success will determine the necessary infrastructures if the vulnerable tion. The NRA has taken a policy to give completion of such important task within beneficiaries, landless beneficiaries, ben- choices to the vulnerable groups on their the designated time. The choice given to eficiaries who have been recently enlisted management. This is a new practice in the the categories and groups whose land is after grievance hearing, beneficiaries who going to be managed and the policy taken have not taken their tranches, and benefi- to encourage them to live in colonies while ciaries who have taken their first tranches Concluding the purchasing new plots seem to have moti- but have not started the house reconstruc- resettlement is not vated the beneficiaries to do so. In such tion - living in scattered places now - want integrated settlement development, budget to come and live in an integrated settle- only a necessity will be allocated for infrastructure devel- ment. Under this scheme, 23 integrated of the day, but opment through the local governments. It settlements have been approved so far and will not be an exaggeration to say this will the number is increasing. also its success fulfil the spirit of the management plan will determine the of the displaced and the development of Conclusion completion of such these integrated settlements. An important part of the NRA’s private housing reconstruction agenda is the important task within Dhruba Prasad Sharma is the member of the Executive management of resettlement of the dis- the designated time. Committee of the National Reconstruction Authority

An integrated settlement is being developed in Khairenitar of Nuwakot. These people had been displaced from Urleni village. NRA

Rebuilding Nepal 9 Three years of school reconstruction The need of the hour is to provide safe school buildings to thousands of students who are still studying inside Temporary Learning Centers.

Im Narayan Shrestha Reconstruction through NGOs Before the CLPIU (Education) was The 25 April 2015 earthquake de- formed, as many as 70 NGOs had already stroyed and damaged 49,681 class rooms started the process to rebuild 350 schools by of 7,553 schools in 32 districts. The gov- securing permission from the then Depart- ernment formed the National Recon- ment of Education. After its formation, the struction Authority (NRA) on 27 De- NRA passed a guideline on the mobilisation cember 2015 under its policy to rebuild of NGOs in the post-earthquake recovery. all the quake-damaged structures through As per the guideline, NGOs can rebuild a single legally-mandated agency. On 29 classrooms after a tripartite agreement be- February 2016, the Central Level Project tween them, the NRA and the CLPIU (Ed- Implementation Unit (Education) and the ucation). Their proposals are first endorsed District Level Project Implementation by the DLPIUs, and then by the CLPIU. Units (Education) for the 14 worst-affect- The final call on each proposal is made by ed districts were formed under the juris- the NRA. Under this modality, NGOs bear diction of the NRA. In April 2016, exactly all the cost for rebuilding schools chosen by one year after the earthquake, the CLPIU As of now, 4,172 them. Altogether 758 schools have already received budget authority from the NRA been rebuilt by NGOs under this model to rebuild the quake-damaged class rooms. out of the 7,553 so far, and 222 quake-damaged schools are That was when reconstruction of schools earthquake-damaged under construction. gathered pace. schools have been As of now, 4,172 out of the 7,553 Reconstruction through construction earthquake-damaged schools have been rebuilt, and another firms rebuilt, and another 1,921 schools are 2,498 schools are This modality has been adopted to re- under construction. A total of 18,000 under construction. build the quake-damaged schools with the class rooms have already been rebuilt, support from Nepal’s development part- and another 17,000 class rooms are under ners and donors like ADB, JICA, USAID construction. The earthquake-damaged by the DLPIU supervise every stage of and India. The Nepal government signs schools are being rebuilt through three school reconstruction, ensuring the use separate agreements with donor agencies, different modalities: School Management of quality materials and adherence to the determining the criteria for selecting con- Committees (SMCs), Non-Governmental building code. This modality has been struction companies to rebuild schools un- Organizations (NGOs) and the construc- adopted especially in reconstruction of der this modality. As per these agreements, tion firms. small schools. This modality was adopted consultants are hired to design schools and in construction of 2,063 quake-damaged supervise their construction. Apart from Reconstruction through SMCs schools in the fiscal years 2016-17 and rebuilding the quake-damaged class rooms, The Executive Committee of the 2017-18. Of them, 1,047 have already physical and educational infrastructures NRA has approved the School Recon- been completed and others are under con- like laboratory, library, computer lab, mu- struction Guideline 2016 to rebuild the struction. We have a target to rebuild 1,143 sic room, teacher rooms, kitchen, separate quake-damaged class rooms through this schools through this modality in the fiscal toilets for boys and girls, toilets for physi- modality. The SMCs lead reconstruction year 2018/19. In addition, around 3,000 cally-disabled students, water tap, furniture, as per the guideline. The SMC first re- schools have been repaired and rebuilt solar backup, electrical wiring, fencing, ceives up to 20% of the total estimated with the budget allocated by the then De- footpath and gate are also built, as per spe- budget through the DLPIU, and more partment of Education to various SMCs cific needs identified by the project design, budget is released later on the basis of through the then District Education Of- under this modality. progress made in reconstruction. Engi- fices in the fiscal years 2014/15, 2015/16 Especially big school buildings have neers and technical persons mobilized and 2016/17. been constructed under this modality, and

10 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

it is expected that such large projects will men and women are working abroad, there yet to begin. The NRA has to begin their help transfer the technical know-how of is an acute shortage of skilled workforce. reconstruction within this year if it is to ac- construction of quake-resistant schools to Frequent shortages and price rise of con- complish its mission in time. Even those the local communities. struction materials have also slowed the schools that have already been rebuilt need Currently, 236 schools under Emergen- pace of rebuilding schools. Engineers and more class rooms, toilets and infrastruc- cy School Reconstruction Project support- technical persons working at the DLPIUs ture, and the NRA needs to address this ed by JICA, 137 schools under Earthquake lack resources, especially motorcycles for issue as well. Emergency Assistance Project being run field visits. As a result, they have not been with a loan assistance from ADB, 17 schools able to supervise and monitor construc- Conclusion under a USAID-funded project, eight mod- tion works more effectively and frequently. We propagated and adhered to the el schools under Japan Fund for Poverty In some cases, office bearers of some principle of ‘build back better’ after the reduction, 70 schools with grants from the SMCs, NGOs and construction firms cho- earthquake. It is important to follow India government and 180 schools (in addi- sen for rebuilding schools have shown the this principle in rebuilding every single tion to 138 schools chosen for retrofitting) lack of alacrity, which has slowed recon- quake-damaged structure, but more so under Disaster Resilience for Schools Proj- struction work. In remote villages, it would while rebuilding schools. All school build- ect of ADB are being rebuilt. be difficult to transport construction ma- ings must be quake-resistant because they terials. In some cases, schools do not have are not just physical infrastructure for ed- Constraints and challenges enough or appropriate lands to build back ucational activities but also a place where Lack of sufficient budget has been better. It is also very challenging to send people can take shelter in the aftermath of the biggest constraint in rebuilding the skilled persons to remote villages for re- a disaster. Thousands of students are still earthquake-damaged schools. A number construction of schools. studying inside Temporary Learning Cen- of quake-damaged schools are yet to be tres, and we must provide them with safe covered by reconstruction projects due The future roadmap and comfortable school infrastructure at to budget constraints. Lack of sufficient The NRA now faces a challenge to the earliest. workforce is another challenge. Since hun- rebuild all the remaining quake-damaged dreds of thousands of private and public schools in the remaining two years of its Im Narayan Shrestha is Project Director of the Central buildings are being constructed simultane- five-year tenure. Reconstruction of as Level Project Implementation Unit (Education) of the ously and a huge number of able-bodied many as 1,252 quake-damaged schools is National Reconstruction Authority

A newly-reconstructed building of Shree Himalaya Secondary School in Saurpani of Gorkha. NRA

Rebuilding Nepal 11 Collaboration with development partners Reconstruction and rehabilitation should be expedited by management of internal financial resources, and by acquiring donations pledged by the development partners.

Pitambar Ghimire collecting the necessary resources for reconstruction became a major responsi- Nepal is considered a vulnerable bility for the country. An international country in terms of earthquake risk be- donors’ conference was organized at the cause of its geographical location and its initiation of the government to collect geological situation. In fact, Nepal is vul- necessary resources for reconstruction. nerable not only to earthquake but also to The donors’ conference resulted in the other multiple types of disasters. Various pledge of supporting Rs. 410 billion from studies have shown that Nepal is the 11th various friendly nations and development most vulnerable in terms of earthquake partners. In the donors’ conference, our risk, 30th in terms of water induced di- neighboring friendly nation India pledged saster risk, and fourth in terms of climate the maximum amount, worth Rs. 100 bil- change vulnerability, in the world. lion, of which Rs. 25 billion was pledged The country had to bear a huge loss as a grant and Rs. 75 billion was pledged of life and property from the mega-earth- as an interest-subsidized loan. There has quake on April 25, 2015 and the subse- been an agreement to spend the Indian quent aftershocks. In this emergency situ- grant in private housing reconstruction, ation, the crisis was managed by carrying heritage sites, and health and education out rescue and relief operations and other sector. humanitarian efforts with generous sup- Likewise, another neighboring coun- port from inside and outside the country. try China had pledged a support of Rs. Experts in this sector say, Nepal’s disas- 77 billion. The remaining pledge was ter management capacity was seen to be from various other friendly nations, do- weak in the fronts of risk mitigation and The mobilization, nor agencies and development partners. preparedness, but was found to be strong Of the total pledged amount, Rs. 670 mil- in post-disaster reconstruction and reha- utilization and receipt lion was spent in relief and rescue, and bilitation. In this context, although some of the support amount out of the remaining Rs. 343 billion, aid confusion was seen in rescue, relief and were not materialized agreements have been signed for Rs. 262 humanitarian effort in the beginning, billion so far. its management was gradually done ef- as pledged. As a Looking at the size of the pledge and fectively with support from all sections. result, there is a gap the signed amount, it appeared that only Moreover, the country has gained a huge between the available a small amount needs to be spent from learning as an asset in this area. the Nepal government’s regular budget in After the initial coping and manage- and the necessary this sector. But, things did not turn out ment of the crisis, Nepal government resources. as expected. The mobilization, utilization established the National Reconstruction and receipt of the support amount were Authority (NRA) on December 27, 2015 not materialized as pledged and expect- to play the leading role in reconstruction proved by the 77 percent progress made ed. As a result, there is a gap between the and rehabilitation works of damages done in the private housing reconstruction and available and the necessary amount of re- by the earthquake. In the initial years, the the progress in other areas of reconstruc- sources. reconstruction work did not speed up tion. Yet, the reconstruction is still not The Post Disaster Recovery Frame- as more time was spent on developing without challenges. work (PDRF) report prepared on the ba- policies, legal framework and necessary The reconstruction and rehabilita- sis of post-disaster needs assessment esti- procedures, directives and guidelines; but tion and more new construction after the mates that Rs. 938 billion will be required now and the coming years will be the ac- earthquake in itself are a challenge to the to complete the reconstruction and reha- tual implementation years. This has been country. In this, in addition to other things, bilitation works.

12 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

NRA NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali and NRA Secretary Arjun Kumar Karki interacting with the donors at the Development Assistance Coordination and Facilitation Committee (DACFC) meeting held on September 21, 2018 at Singha Durbar.

Necessary homework to assess the Japan, Norway, and USA have contrib- works concluded in the past three years uted, while donor agencies such as the and the amount spent on it, and the de- The analysis done World Bank, the Asian Development termination of tasks remaining to be so far has indicat- Bank, the European Union, among oth- completed now and the amount required ed that the actual ers, have been supporting. to complete them is at the final stage, This way, the country devastated by and the actual estimates of the amount amount that will the earthquake is rising with collective ef- required now to complete the remaining be required will be forts and collaboration from all. But still, reconstruction and rehabilitation work is slightly less than reconstruction and rehabilitation should likely to be clear after that. The analysis be expedited by management of inter- done so far has indicated that the actual the amount estimat- nal financial resources, and by acquiring amount that will be required will be slight- ed by the PDRF. donations pledged by the development ly less than the amount estimated by the partners and executing effectively. Like- PDRF. Such aid is focused on social technical wise, there is a necessity of working even Rs. 186 billion has been spent on re- aid in private housing reconstruction, and harder to address issues of terms that construction and rehabilitation related school reconstruction, among others, in come with the aid, procurement process, works through the NRA after its estab- the earthquake affected districts. drawing, design, consultant appointment, lishment, and a budget of Rs. 151 billion Looking at it sector-wise, develop- and reimbursement on time of projects/ has been allocated for the running fiscal ment partners have been supporting in plans, monitoring and evaluation and re- year 2018/19. The largest chunk of the socio-economic rehabilitation including ports. Moving ahead by taking necessary spent amount has been on private hous- private housing reconstruction, educa- initiatives within its jurisdiction and rights ing reconstruction. tion, health, heritage sites and physical is the need of the day for the NRA. Of the spent amount, so far Rs. 67 infrastructure. billion has been received as foreign aid Likewise, looking at the participation, Pitambar Ghimire is Joint Secretary and Spokesperson in various forms, according to statistics. friendly countries including India, China, of the National Reconstruction Authority

Rebuilding Nepal 13 Optimum use of IT in reconstruction The post-earthquake reconstruction has been systematized and its possible errors and risks have been reduced through the wide use of information technology.

Manohar Ghimire engineers deployed on the field was direct- ly sent to the central server through the The 7.6-rector scale earthquake on internet. This was the first time data was April 25, 2015 with epicenter in Barpak collected using tablets in such large scale in of Gorkha district and the several subse- Nepal’s statistical history. After its success, quent aftershocks affected the erstwhile data collections in many enumerations and 31 districts of Nepal and caused huge surveys are being done using tablets at loss of lives and physical property. It was present. The use of modern IT this way a big calamity in Nepal’s history. Almost helped the completion of the data collec- 9,000 people died an untimely death, over tion in short time and made quick identi- 22,000 got injured and physical proper- fication of beneficiaries possible. Benefi- ty worth Rs. 7 billion was damaged in ciaries had been identified and the task of this disaster. There was huge damage in grant agreements had begun within two various sectors including houses of the months of the data collection. people, buildings of schools and health centers, historical monuments, roads, and Identification of private housing ben- drinking water facilities. eficiaries So, the National Reconstruction Au- Private housing reconstruction bene- thority (NRA) was established under Sec- ficiaries and retrofitting beneficiaries have tion (3) of the act on reconstruction of Details of all the been identified using the central informa- structures damaged by the earthquake on beneficiaries have tion system based on the data collected December 27, 2015 to promote nation- from the earthquake affected regions un- al interest and provide social justice by been managed der the earthquake affected housing re- rehabilitating and resettling families and through the construction data collection program and individuals displaced by the earthquake, agreement number details of the damage collected in the cen- and for early construction of structures tral information system. Details of all the damaged by the disaster in sustainable, released through the beneficiaries have been managed through strong and well-planned manner. The information system. the agreement number released through Authority, established for a fixed term the information system. of five years, has been working in several areas of post earthquake reconstruction. Earthquake affected data collection Central Information System As the NRA has completed the third program (damage assessment) The NRA has its own specialized Cen- year of its establishment, one cannot Private houses of common people are tral Information System. As used by oth- deny the fact that the NRA has been lit- the most damaged area in the earthquake. er countries during the post-earthquake tle slow than expected but a lot has been As per the policy of Nepal Government to reconstruction to manage reconstruction done till now. provide financial grant for safe reconstruc- through information system, an informa- Today’s time of twenty-first century is tion of houses affected by earthquake, in tion system was developed and executed, called the era of information technology order to make grants available for the re- especially for private housing reconstruc- (IT). Along with the fast development in construction of earthquake affected hous- tion. Information such as details of the IT, its use is increasing in every sector. es and to identify beneficiaries, under data damage, details of the beneficiaries, re- There is a trend of using IT widely in collection program of reconstruction of construction-related works done by the modern society to manage information earthquake affected houses, details of the non-governmental organizations, details and statistics and to make policies. IT has damage of 10,52,948 houses in 31 districts of the under-construction houses, tranch- been used in several areas of post earth- was collected in three stages via tablets in es distribution, details of grievances, de- quake reconstruction and the major ones collaboration with the Central Bureau of tails of trained individuals, and details of are discussed below: Statistics. The data collected on tablets by vulnerable groups and areas have been

14 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

uploaded in the information system. The an inspection by the technicians deployed ments, success stories, notices etc using Central Information System has enabled in the field. Subsequent tranches is being Facebook and Twitter that are in popular efficient management of about 900,000 recommended and the under construction use these days. This has helped to dissem- beneficiaries in various earthquake-affect- houses are being analyzed on the basis of inate the NRA information to the con- ed districts. this information. Details of the houses cerned stakeholders. constructed with the financial aid can be Tranches distributed using informa- availed easily in the future too, using this Website and mobile application tion system system. The NRA has its own website and it All details of private housing recon- disseminates its policies, organizational struction and retrofitting beneficiaries have Damage assessment of monasteries structure, notices, information of employ- been uploaded in the Central Information Assessment of monasteries damaged ees, work progress and other information System, and tranches are being deposited by the earthquake was done using tablets through the site. Along with this, a mobile in the respective bank accounts of the by the technicians deployed in the field in application named Surakshit Ghar (Safe beneficiaries through the banking system. the earthquake-affected districts. Monas- House) has also been used. In addition to This has helped control leakages and de- teries to be reconstructed and retrofitted this, a toll free number has also been op- lays in tranche distribution. The district have been identified by analyzing the de- erated to listen to the grievances of the level offices related to the NRA tally the tails collected this way. earthquake survivors. information of the beneficiaries with the This way, IT has been widely used in information system while distributing the Grievance handling the post-earthquake reconstruction. The tranches. The reconstruction beneficiaries Over 300,000 grievances - with a re- NRA’s information system is one of the receive Rs. 300,000 in three tranches and quest to be enlisted as beneficiaries in the important and large information systems the retrofitting beneficiaries receive Rs. private housing reconstruction beneficiary being used in Nepal. Various information 200,000 in two tranches. The information list - are being analyzed using the infor- systems have been arranged to know the system prevents release of second tranche present situation of reconstruction and to before taking the first tranche, and the monitor and evaluate the ongoing works. release of third tranche before taking the The NRA’s Informa- Engineers and other technicians deployed second tranche. This prevents beneficiaries tion System is one in the field dispatch information quickly to from receiving money through the wrong the center using Android tablets. means. This way, the safer reconstruction of the important Besides, the NRA is conducting dam- has been ensured by controlling tranches. and large informa- age assessment of all buildings and health tion systems being institutions throughout the country in the Management of banks near future. Reports for top management There has been arrangement to pro- used in Nepal. at the policy-level and for development vide grant amount to earthquake survivors partners supporting the reconstruction through the banks designated from the mation system. Without the information are also prepared using the information center. For this, after the identification of system, grievance handling would have system. Employees and experts related to the beneficiaries, a bank account will be been very complicated. The information information system have been deployed in automatically opened in their name in a system has been found to be very effective the central and district level offices of the branch near them. The bank account gets in handling grievances scientifically and in NRA. There has been an ample support activated after the beneficiary signs the providing justice to the applicants. and collaboration from the international grant agreement and submits the necessary development partners in the development documents. Cheques from the Treasury Project Monitoring Information Sys- of the NRA’s present information system. Controller Officer will be automatical- tem (PMIS) The post-earthquake reconstruction ly deposited in the beneficiaries’ account The Project Monitoring Information has been systematized and its possible er- within seven days. The banks also have to System (PMIS) has been developed with rors and risks have been reduced through enter details of the amount distributed to details of reconstruction of public schools, the wide use of IT. Thus, IT has played an the beneficiaries in the NRA’s Information public buildings, roads, heritages sites, important role in making reconstruction System. This system enables the access of buildings of health institutions, as well as reliable and credible. It will not be an exag- the dates on which the beneficiaries took that of reconstruction-related works done geration to say that this is a high-level suc- the tranches in one click. by the non-governmental organizations. cess in Nepal’s government sector. Now, The information on public reconstruction the NRA is working towards handing over Details of reconstructed houses activities can be accessed through this in- the strong and reliable information systems The photographs of houses being re- formation system. and statistics to the local governments. constructed after being listed in the private housing reconstruction beneficiary Use of social networking sites Manohar Ghimire is Under Secretary at the Information list and receiving the tranches are sent to The NRA has been disseminating its Management Section and Deputy Spokesperson of the the information system via tablets after policies, reconstruction updates, achieve- National Reconstruction Authority

Rebuilding Nepal 15 Rebuilding heritage The NRA has set an ambitious goal to retrofit all the earthquake-damaged heritage structures, and reconstruction of all temples, monasteries, monuments and archeological structures will be completed in three years’ time.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake of 25 al reconstruction work. So, in the first April 2015 and its powerful aftershocks phase of heritage restoration, we made destroyed and damaged altogether 753 an inventory of earthquake-damaged heritage sites, ancient monuments and heritage structures by carefully collecting, archeologically important structures in examining and documenting details about and outside the Kathmandu Valley. After all the fallen monuments, artefacts and the National Reconstruction Authority structures. We faced an acute shortage of (NRA) was formed three years ago, the skilled manpower, but that did not stop us legally mandated agency responsible for from accomplishing our mission. In the leading the post-earthquake recovery also second phase, we managed more skilled gave priority to reconstruction and resto- manpower and carried out even more de- ration of Nepal’s priceless heritage sites. tailed researches. We trained artisans. We prepared conservation notes, drawing de- Documentation and restoration of signs and legal instruments. Only then did heritage structures the actual reconstruction began. Reconstruction of the earth- Rebuilding earthquake-damaged her- quake-damaged heritage structures is a itage structures is not as simple as re- complex endeavor. It requires a lot of building other structures. We need to as- Bhishma Banskota detailed study, meticulous documenta- certain the original style, architecture and tion and planning before starting actu- appearance of every monument through

16 Rebuilding Nepal THREE YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTION

Reconstruction and retrofitting of temples in the Swoyambhunath premises and the Gaddi Baithak at the Basantapur Nirjana Sharma/UNESCO Durbar Square have been completed. layers of meticulous examination and ments and archeological structures. The foreign assistance, lack of legal instru- verification in tune with Ancient Monu- earthquake-destroyed Kasthmandap is ments for monastery construction and ment Preservation Act 2013 BS and its being rebuilt by Kasthmandap Recon- lack of coordination between stakehold- guidelines-2046 BS as well as internation- struction Committee involving local peo- ers are major constraints and challenges al norms and standards. While preserving ple and we are also sorting out the dispute in accelerating the pace of restoring the original and unique style and architecture over which style and architecture to fol- earthquake-damaged monasteries and Vi- of monuments, it is also important to low in the reconstruction of Balgopalesh- hars. make them earthquake-resistant. All these wor temple of Rani Pokhari. complications meant that restoration of The future roadmap earthquake-damaged heritage structures Rebuilding monasteries The NRA has given priority to resto- needed more time to begin, and is still Last year, a survey was conducted to ration and preservation of ancient tem- perceived by people to be slower than ex- assess the extent of damage to monas- ples, monasteries and monuments located pected. teries and Buddhist Vihars. The survey inside the world heritage sites. The Prime In the first three years of the NRA, showed that 895 of the 1,320 earth- Minister has already laid the foundation as many as 201 monuments and heritage quake-damaged monasteries and Bud- stone of the historical monument of structures (53 inside World Heritage Sites dhist Vihars need to be rebuilt, while Dharahara, which will be built in the next and 148 situated elsewhere) have already 502 monasteries just need repair works. two years. The NRA has set an ambitious been rebuilt and preserved by the Depart- However, reconstruction of monasteries goal to retrofit all the earthquake-dam- ment of Archaeology, local governments, and Buddhist Vihars could not gather aged heritage structures, and reconstruc- NGOs, donor agencies and Nepal’s devel- pace due to the delay in finalizing neces- tion of all temples, monasteries, monu- opment partners. sary procedures. This year, all the required ments and archeological structures will be Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust procedures will be finalized and recon- completed in three years’ time. The pro- (KVPT) is also involved in preservation struction of monasteries and Buddhist cess is underway to develop comprehen- and restoration of some earthquake-dam- Vihars will be expedited. sive master plans to preserve and rebuild aged heritage structures, and Nepal’s de- all 52 ancient settlements in and outside velopment partners like Japan, Sri Lanka, Constraints and challenges the Kathmandu Valley. Switzerland, China and India have also A shortage of skilled artisans, lack of provided their support to rebuilding tem- traditional construction material, compli- Bhishma Banskota is an Archeology Officer at the ples, monasteries, ancient palaces, monu- cated process of receiving and mobilizing National Reconstruction Authority

Rebuilding Nepal 17 REBUILDING HERITAGE

Chuna Surki Keeping up with tradition

Text & Photos: Chandra Shekhar Karki

18 Rebuilding Nepal REBUILDING HERITAGE

The post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal’s cultural heritage has raised a de- bate on the importance of maintaining the originality of the destroyed monuments or the need to utilize the modern technology to make the structures more stronger, as many tend to believe that the modern technology would help make the structures more earthquake-resilient. However, those who are involved in lobbying to resurrect our historical monuments have stressed on rebuilding the damaged structures by keeping up the tradition. Those who are in favor of adopting the modern technology argue that traditional building material is not strong enough. However, the archeologists believe that Chuna Surki is as strong as any other building material. The traditional building material known as Chuna Surki is the combina- tion of lime mixture, brick dust and sand and is used as plaster in place of modern cement. This traditional material is currently being used to reconstruct the Bhandar Ghar (Store room) at the premises of Bhimeshwar Mahadev Temple in Charikot, Dolakha. According to the workers at the site, they are making the plaster with one portion of Chuna (lime mixture), two portions of Surki (brick dust) and one portion of sand.

Rebuilding Nepal 19 FACT FILE

20 Rebuilding Nepal FACT FILE

415 248 (16/232) (162/253) 145 (126/19)

4,1723,636 1,921

201 309

643 (312/331) 145 (51/94)

100 105

791 670

Graphics: Rabin Sayami

Rebuilding Nepal 21 FROM THE PARTNERS

Photos: ICIMOD Rising from ruins Making of a resilient mountain village What was once a desolate site of destruction, Dhungentar in Nuwakot is now truly a model ‘Resilient Mountain Village’.

Nuwakot: When the 7.6 magnitude model ‘Resilient Mountain Village’. ficial handover, Sushil Gyewali, CEO of earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April At the heart of this transformation NRA, said, “The transformation in the 2015, Dhungetar (formerly Charghare is a story of partnership. In April 2016, village beyond reconstruction has been VDC) in Nuwakot suffered a major the International Center for Integrat- remarkable, and the project’s accom- blow. Out of the 96 homes, only one re- ed Mountain Development (ICIMOD), plishments go in line with the NRA’s aim mained standing. It was a miracle that no the National Reconstruction Authority of establishing secure and prosperous lives were lost, but there were significant (NRA), Government of Nepal, and the communities in Nepal.” losses in terms of livestock, agriculture, International Development Research With socioe-conomically marginal- and livelihood. Center (IDRC), Government of Canada, ized communities comprising the major- After two and half years of hard came together to embark on what they ity of the project beneficiaries, the aim work and dedication, Dhungetar boasts a envisioned as – ‘Resilient Mountain Vil- was to support a particularly vulnerable total of 90 new disaster-resilient homes, lage: A Pilot Demonstration Project on village through a difficult transition pe- a community hall, a health post, over 1.5 Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabil- riod. The project intended to address km of road (complete with solar-pow- itation’. Upon its realization, the project infrastructural frailties, reduce socioeco- ered with street lights), as well as a cou- was officially handed over to the Dhun- nomic vulnerabilities, and elevate the liv- ple of workshops where some residents getar community and the local authori- ing standards of Dhungetar locals in the have found work. What was once a des- ties on 17 December 2018. long term. olate site of destruction is now truly a Speaking on the occasion of the of- “We wanted this project to extend

22 Rebuilding Nepal FROM THE PARTNERS

A model ‘Resilient Mountain Village’ has been reconstructed in Dhungetar in Nuwakot (left). NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali and Director General of ICIMOD David Molden handed over the reconstructed village to the local community amidst a function in Dhungetar, Nuwakot on 17 December 2018 (right). beyond post-disaster reconstruction towards strengthening the village in a holistic manner. I am happy to see that the community has taken huge strides towards greater security and improved livelihoods,” remarked David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD. Since its inception, the project was implemented in collaboration with local institutions, government agencies, private sector partners, and, most im- portantly, the community itself. This encouraged community ownership to ensure impactful development. Shanta model farm on my land. I worked very Man Tamang, Chair of the District De- Through the course hard with the project, and now we have velopment Committee, stated. something the whole village can learn “The development we have seen in of the project, from. They come to me for advice now.” Dhungetar is an exceptional example of extra emphasis was Similarly, numerous livelihood train- what we can achieve through collabora- placed on livelihood ing programs were conducted to encour- tive will and action. To see people who age entrepreneurship, and utilization had to live in makeshift shelters after the development to help of innovative household technologies. earthquake now living in secure houses the village become Programs were implemented to intro- and thriving as a community is very heart self-reliant. duce environment-friendly practices and warming. Aspects of this project should e-commerce services for all of the resi- certainly be considered for other areas in dents in Dhungetar. Nepal as well.” CSSB production site into an enterprise. It was only apt that the handover The handover ceremony witnessed The roads, trails, and a bridge which ceremony was done at the new multipur- a large community participation to cel- were also constructed has significantly pose community center. Other than the ebrate the culmination of a long road to improved intra-village connectivity and official hand-over to the community rep- recovery. Mamata Sunar, a member of access to markets. The new health clin- resentatives, a photobook, a multi-media the Dhungetar Aama-Samuha (Mothers’ ic and a multipurpose community center video and a website documenting the Group), one of the local community or- have further boosted the community’s project’s journey were also launched. ganizations established by the project, social bonds and ability to withstand fu- During the ceremony, Basanta Shrestha, said, “We have been regularly cleaning ture shocks. Director of ICIMOD’s Directorate of the village. We have helped out in con- Through the course of the project, Strategic Cooperation, who conceptual- struction activities. We even contribute extra emphasis was placed on liveli- ized and spearheaded the project, said, 100 rupees to a community savings fund hood development to help the village “Being a part of this project has been a every month. We have come together in become self-reliant. Professions inte- rewarding experience, especially winning a way we haven’t done before. That really gral to Dhungetar’s functioning received the hearts and minds of the marginal- makes me happy. I hope it continues.” focus: existing blacksmith workshops, ized community and making a small dif- The disaster-resilient infrastructure carpentry sheds, and water mills were ference in their lives. The project went was built using interlocking compressed improved, and a model for resilient agri- beyond reconstruction to focus on other stabilized soil blocks (CSSBs), a cost-ef- cultural farming was also set up to show- key components of Dhungetar’s sus- fective and eco-friendly technology pro- case innovative, proven, and low-cost tained development and long-term resil- moted by the project. Around 60 per- technologies that could be replicated in ience. This project can serve as a model cent of houses in Dhungetar used these the community. for post-disaster reconstruction tailored blocks, which were locally produced by Hira Lal Sunar, one of the residents to the socio-economic and geographic trained locals, whereas the rest used rein- who chose to adopt the new agriculture needs of mountain regions.” forced concrete cement (RCC) technol- model and practices, said, “The project ogy. There are now plans to expand the said I would receive help in creating a From ICIMOD

Rebuilding Nepal 23 FROM THE PARTNERS

Parma System supports reconstruction Uniformity in understanding the technology regarding earthquake safety and acceptance as well as consensus built among the masons has absolutely been directed towards resilience and long term safety.

Ram Krishna Sharma quake hit areas have witnessed seismic He is one of the members of 15 masons resilient communities with the quake-af- who had formed a group to reconstruct At a time when there are a lot of fected families drawn back to their nor- Bigu in October 2016. Magar says, “Fol- criticism regarding the post-earthquake mal life. lowing the Parma system, we have al- reconstruction in Nepal, the stories of Akkal Bahadur Magar, resident of ready finished reconstructing Gyalbasing some communities in the quake-hard- Gyalbasingh of Bigu in Dolakha is a and other areas of Bigu. There are sever- hit districts are quite opposite though; trained mason; carpenter and bar bend- al other groups of masons like us in Bigu they show the graph of successful re- er in Dolakha, who engages himself in Rural Municipality who have been con- construction ascended. Significantly the reconstruction activities in his locality. tributing their best not only to expedite

24 Rebuilding Nepal FROM THE PARTNERS

Photos: NSET Many houses in Tipling Village of northern Dhading have now been reconstructed (left). A group of masons led by Santa Tamang (White striped t-shirt) discussing reconstruction at Gurje of Nuwakot.

es of beneficiaries within the team. The cycle of one Parma is accomplished after Parma System is a building the houses of all the members of social practice of group or working the man-days equal to exchanging labor or the man days the people have contributed. On an average, around 10 masons includ- services (Alopalo) ing labors work in the Parma System for while carrying out around 20 days to complete a typical two- roomed stone masonry house i.e. around major social, cultural 200 men are employed in constructing a and agricultural house and hence the house owner has to reconstruction but also to set a model in activities. contribute this very number while con- northern Dolakha.” structing the houses of the people who Many of the families in Bigu have were involved earlier. This very system of already resumed their normal life; in- Parma System Parma is contributing a lot to the earth- volving themselves in their respective Parma System is a social practice of quake-affected people in different areas works that had run out of routine after exchanging labor or services (Alopalo) of Dolakha, Dhading and Nuwakot to not earthquake that devastated central Nepal while carrying out major social, cultural only accelerate the reconstruction process in 2015. and agricultural activities. The practice but also for better and safer reconstruc- Antari Magar, neighbor of Akkal, of Parma is a culture of performing each tion. was found harvesting millet with her other’s work turn by turn collectively. This co-villagers. She said, “Males are re- is mostly prevalent in rural and agrarian Thami brothers transformed their vil- constructing our village through Parma societies of Nepal. This system is firmly lage to resist earthquake System which is our culture of doing prevailing in the remote areas of Dolakha, Dampha is a small settlement belong- agricultural work. Without doubt, the Dhading and Nuwakot; some of the hard- ing to Thami, a marginalized community collective work of masons has led to est hit districts by the earthquake. of Babare Village, Ward 3 of Kalinchowk speedy and successful reconstruction of While reconstructing houses, masons Rural Municipality, Dolakha. Twenty six our village.” form a group and start constructing hous- Thami families are happily living in the

Rebuilding Nepal 25 FROM THE PARTNERS

in making our village quake-resilient,” said Bikash Ghale, a leading mason of Baliyo Tole. “We have our sons, son-in-laws and brother-in-laws as trained masons in our family, they have worked together as Par- ma, so we need not had to worry about the availability and wages for masons!” Syu Tamang, a local from Baliyo Tole, expressed his happiness, “We all are very happy. We have not only restored our houses but also got a grant of Rs. 300,000 from the government, which means a lot to us.”

Gurje rebuilt by Tamang group Just 20-22 kilometers north from the capital Kathmandu, there lies an inclined settlement of Gurje, one of the villages of Shivapuri Rural Municipality in Nuwakot with full of natural beauty and mesmer- izing landscape. It got rattled during the earthquake. Rebuilding village following Antari magar with her co-villagers harvesting millet in front of her newly-rebuilt house. the Parma system and collective learning about the resilient community are the village. The earthquake and subsequent sistance program implemented by Na- characteristics of Gurje. Soon after they aftershocks had devastated the entire set- tional Society for Earthquake Technology received the first tranche of the govern- tlement where one elderly man lost his life – Nepal (NSET) with the support from ment grant and mason training, mason too. Around three years’ period after the the USAID helped to overcome the hu- leaders like Santa Bahadur Tamang ini- earthquake was quite a forgetful for them man resource crunch for earthquake-re- tiated to form masons’ group who were as they had to go through a tough time silient construction as it provided training to work turn by turn. “We used to lay the under the temporary shelters. However, to existing masons. It paved the way to go DPC foundation of one house and leave it three years after the earthquake, the recon- ahead with the reconstruction. The strong for curing and start laying the foundation struction of all the 26 houses have been bond among the Dampha community on other house.” completed. The village not only has risen members directed a successful reconstruc- Likewise, when walls were to be laid from the rubble, but has also turned resil- tion in the Dampha. in one house the other house was left for ient as the engineers employed in the area curing. In one way, it stopped masons say all the houses rebuilt now can resist Tipling witnesses safer and better from having a free time and in the other future earthquakes. The labor exchanging reconstruction the houses were rebuilt simultaneously. system that they applied in the village, the Dhading is another one of the hard- “It indeed supported in speeding up the continuous technical support and timely est hit districts by the earthquake. Tipling, overall reconstruction,” said Santa. He disbursement of government grant eased the northern most village in Dhading, lies leads the group of seven Tamang masons. the villagers to finish the reconstruction in Ruby Valley Rural Municipality of the Tamangs are under-privileged community work on time. It took them almost one district, one of the tourist trails in Nepal. people in Nepal. year to complete the reconstruction of With no road access, no electricity and Like the group of Santa, there are the settlement. lack of awareness with low literacy but three other groups that had been formed “We divided the male members of with mind blowing natural beauty, Tipling to complete the reconstruction of Gurje. each household into three groups and di- has woken up with quake-resilient houses The local authorities are pleased to witness vided the role for house reconstruction as now. the successful reconstruction of Gurje per their skills. One group was assigned Tipling dwellers have entitled one within the short period of time. to prepare foundation, second group was of the settlements as Baliyo Tole (Strong “Earlier, we had the scarcity of masons group of carpenters and assigned for pre- Tole). All of the houses flattened by the as they used to leave their village for either paring wooden materials required for new earthquake have now been rebuilt to resist Kathmandu or other areas for better wag- house and carrying out the tasks of roof- earthquakes, hence villagers have coined es,” said Ram Krishna Thapa, Chairperson ing while third group was a group of ma- the name Baliyo Tole. “At first, we were not of Shivapuri Rural Municipality. “But after sons and assigned to build the wall of the aware of making quake safe houses, nei- the mason training and after the formation house,” local mason Man Bahadur Thami ther we had idea nor access to technology, of the masons’ groups, they were moral- said. but when we were provided with seve-day ly bound to use their skills in the village Baliyo Ghar Program, a technical as- mason training, we have been successful which resulted in better reconstruction.”

26 Rebuilding Nepal FROM THE PARTNERS Perma system helps Kanchi Maya build house The ‘Parma’ system works by all households sharing the responsibility. Each family needs to contribute a share of the labor to build each house in the ‘Parma’ group.

Nuwakot: Introducing Kanchi Maya Tamang! A resident of Kaule, Nuwakot district and a single mother for 20 years after her husband passed away. Kanchi single-handedly raised three children in rural Nepal. She now lives with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchild. Both her daughters live with their husbands in another village. She earns a living from her land, tending to the crops. On April 25, 2015, she was working in the field when the ground began to shake. Her immediate concern was for her family, but as she saw her house fall to the ground, she wondered how she could afford to rebuild it. Kanchi’s house was totally destroyed. This made her feel upset as she had fond memories of her home. She had raised her children and spent her entire life there. Luckily, her family members were outside, so no one was injured. Jayden Reynolds The family had to move to a nearby Kanchi Maya Tamang says, “If it wasn’t for the ‘Parma’ system, I would not have been able to build my house.” farm and live in a communal shelter in the months after the earthquake. “We had and share the labor of the community. “If to live in a temporary shelter for eight it wasn’t for the ‘Parma’ system, I would months because we could not afford to With the help from not have been able to build my house,” build a new house,” she recalls. “It wasn’t the American Red The ‘Parma’ system is an innovative sys- very comfortable living in the temporary Cross and Build tem to help those who are vulnerable and shelter, as there was little protection from not necessarily be able to afford the cost wind and rain. So, we wanted to move Change, the family of a new house or build a house that is back into our house as soon as possible.” built a two-room earthquake resilient. Whilst living in the temporary shelter, stone and mud As most of her community members Kanchi looked into how she was going to have lot of time, but little money, they rebuild her house. As a single parent with house at the cost of cannot afford to hire workers, but can limited income, her options for rebuilding Rs. 360,000. spare the time to do the work themselves. were sparse. Through community mem- The ‘Parma’ system works by all house- bers, she learnt of a program being run kind of houses that could be built, as well holds sharing the responsibility. Each fam- jointly by The American Red Cross, Nepal as guidance on the process of obtaining ily needs to contribute a share of the labor Red Cross and Build Change. The pro- the government housing grant. to build each house in the ‘Parma’ group. gram would provide financial support of The family took some time to consid- This brings significant cost savings to all up to Rs. 300,000 (about 3,000 USD) to er all the different types of houses avail- members of the community. rebuild her house in addition to free tech- able. With the help from the American Kanchi and her family have been living nical support, including the provision of Red Cross and Build Change, the family in their new house for a few months now. house drawings. decided to build a two-room stone and She says, “I am very happy that our house A technical team consisting of engi- mud house. The house took eight months is complete, and we are once again able to neers and social mobilisers from the Amer- and cost Rs. 360,000 (about 3,600 USD) have a home. After what seemed like an ican Red Cross and Build Change visited to complete. endless period of sorrow and despair, we Kanchi’s house and provided her detailed Kanchi recollects that one of the are once again able to stand up and run.” information on her options for rebuilding. things that helped her out in the construc- They showed her photos and details of the tion of her house was the ability to pool From Build Change

Rebuilding Nepal 27 FROM THE PRESS Everything you need to know about the reconstruction of Kasthamandap After wrangling between local community members and the National Reconstruction Authority for three years, the rebuilding of Kasthamandap is finally underway.

Asmita Manandhar

The Metropolitan Police Range at Ha- numandhoka is filled with wooden structures salvaged from the Kasthamandap, known locally as Maru Satta: after it fell during the 2015 earthquake. While the courtyard holds centuries-old relics in neat stacks, the walls inside the office of the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Com- mittee, overlooking the artefacts, is plas- tered with maps and old photographs of the erstwhile pavilion-marketplace. Ever since the 2015 earthquake brought Kasthamandap down, the reconstruction of the oldest and largest traditional building, built by lumber collected from a single tree according to legends, has been through several phases. Initially, a campaign led by local community members had stepped forward to rebuild the temple through public fundraising and The Kathmandu Post voluntary labour contribution after a huge The reconstruction of Kasthamandap has finally begun after the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the local public outcry against a Department of community agreed to work together. Archaeology reconstruction plan that at- ing the cultural value of this heritage site, entities to rebuild a structure that didn’t tempted to the use steel and concrete. But KMC, a year after the earthquake, had comply with the historical and cultural after lengthy political wrangling, the cam- prepared to invite bids for the temple’s significance of the Kasthamandap. paign is no longer steering the rebuilding reconstruction, a plan that was vehement- But according to campaign leaders, process, instead a committee has now ly opposed by the local community. The the newly-formed committee has been been formed, in coordination with the ‘Campaign to Rebuild Kasthamandap’, a sidelining all of the campaign’s efforts. Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), to community-led initiative was then formed Although the campaign was initially a rebuild Kasthamandap. to oppose the contract-based building loose group of like-minded individuals “We performed a chhyama puja and the usage of steel and concrete in the fighting for heritage conservation, on (prayer for forgiveness) on May 14 to steer reconstruction of the temple. May 12, 2017, an agreement was signed the rebuilding of the Kasthamandap and Shakya acknowledges that the cam- between four parties—National Recon- have since been working with high speed paign has led the way to the current destruction Authority (NRA), Department and spirit,” says Rajesh Shakya, chairper- velopment of the reconstruction process. of Archaeology (DoA), KMC and the son of the Kasthamandap Rebuilding “Had it been given under a contract basis, campaign, now a registered organisa- Committee (KRC) and also a Provincial the temple wouldn’t have retained any of tion—to hand over responsibility of re- Assembly member from the area. its essence,” he says, reiterating his com- building Kasthamandap to the campaign. This was not the first time there mitment to using indigenous methods “But mere six months after the agree- building of Kasthamandap was officially and preserving both tangible and intangi- ment, the NRA urged us to let the KMC launched. The historical pavilion—a rest ble heritage. take over the reconstruction process, house for traders crossing the trans-Hi- For two years after the earthquake, which we had denied at the time,” says malayan route that connected Tibet to the local community, joined by elderly Birendra Bhakta Shrestha, chairperson India—holds immense cultural and sym- and young supporters alike, secured the of the campaign., “We wanted to set an bolic importance. But instead of uphold- site and resisted any efforts from state example by rebuilding national heritage

28 Rebuilding Nepal FROM THE PRESS through a community-led initiative by “The restoration of such cultural her- advice regarding the incorporation of in- fundraising from the people and accept- itages is not something to be rushed. Al- tangible heritage for the rebuilding process. ing voluntary labour contributions.” though there was a three-year deadlock He is aware about the social and cultural When asked about the practical impli- due to various political reasons, the silver implications of Kasthamandap,” says Ba- cations of such an ambitious plan, Yagya- lining was that there was an ample time to jracharya. man Pati Bajracharya, a Buddhism scholar research,” says Kai Weise, an architect and During the chhyama puja, Minister for and one of the leaders of the campaign, an active advocate of disaster risk manage- Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabin- says that it is certainly possible. “We want- ment of cultural heritage sites. Weise has dra Adhikari said that the reconstruction ed to collect exactly Rs 100 from every- been involved with the campaign for re- of Kasthamandap would be completed one in the Valley and had held talks with building Kasthamandap since its inception within the next three years. KMC also various community organisations for their and is also providing his expert input to the sanctioned a cheque for Rs 5 million to the labour contribution. We wanted to build new committee. committee for the reconstruction process, community ownership by reconstructing The committee is now moving forward on July 13. the temple through direct community aid,” under the assumption that traditional ar- The committee has plans to install four said Bajracharya. chitecture can withstand more stress than a foundation pillars by January 29 2019 and The NRA did not comply with the concrete structure. But they have been re- complete the first floor by June of next agreement to hand over rebuilding author- lying on modern technology to verify this year. They are very hopeful that the con- ity, say campaign members. “But we didn’t assumption. “The lifespan of concrete has struction process will be completed within go to court because we didn’t want any fur- been proved to be 100 years but our tradi- the given timeframe. They have also com- ther delay in rebuilding Kasthamandap,” tional architecture had been standing since mitted to document the entire reconstruc- says Shrestha. the 7th century. This is not something to tion process, down to the management of Shakya, on the other hand, says that be ignored,” says Shakya. each layer of bricks. There are plans to the committee has incorporated the con- publish quarterly budget reports on their cerns of the campaign and has included website to emphasise the transparency of campaigners on its co-committees. Both Even campaign the overall process. Shrestha and Bajracharya, however, refuse leaders, although But Bajracharya is still cautious regard- to attend meetings on the grounds that the ing the committee’s methods and its usage campaign as a whole should be recognised, dissatisfied with of funds. “I have asked the chairperson to rather than individual appointments. the committee install a hoarding board in front of the site According to Shakya, his team searched formation process, so that the public has access to all the infor the timber and soil to replicate the pri- formation. Not everyone can go to their meval design and build. For the wooden say that they are website,” he asserts. structures, a August 12 Cabinet decision satisfied with the Ganapati Lal Shrestha—coordina- sanctioned the use of timber from various committee’s work tor of the Heritage conservation cam- forests in Bardibas, Mahottari, Rautahat paign struggle committee at Kathmandu and Sarlahi districts. Soil ideal for recon- so far. Durbar Square, who has been overseeing struction, which constitutes one-part clay, the court cases against the construction two-parts silt and three-parts sand, was dis- of the Maharjan complex, demolition covered closer, at Tahachal in Kathmandu. Way ahead of Bagh Durbar and advocating against Then, on the first day of Nepal Sambat Binita Magaiya, a conservation archi- the usage of concrete at Rani Pokhari— 1139 (November 8, 2018) the committee tect who was initially hired by the cam- concurs with Bajracharya. “The state is performed a shuvarambha puja (com- paign and then re-hired by the committee, sensitive towards the community’s sen- mencement prayer) and began the rebuild- says that after much delay, the rebuilding timents regarding the reconstruction ing process. process is now moving swiftly ahead. “The of Kasthamandap after the extensive campaign and the committee both follow campaign, but other heritages inside the The silver lining the same school of thought of preserv- Durbar Square area are still being recon- On December 24, 2016, a joint excava- ing tangible and intangible heritages,” says structed through the tender process,” he tion was carried out by DoA and Durham Magaiya, who worked under the direct su- says, doubtful that local representatives University, which postulated that the tem- pervision of Bajracharya during her time have been able to understand the collec- ple was built in the 7th century. In earlier with the Kasthamandap campaign. “But tive sentiments of the indigenous com- estimates, Kasthamandap had been identi- now with the new committee, there is au- munity. fied as a 12th century monument. The new thority and certainty.” “As a community, for now, we have put findings further bolstered the argument of Even campaign leaders, although dis- our trust in the committee that it will re- the campaign that reconstruction be car- satisfied with the committee formation build Kasthamandap honestly, but we are ried out along traditional architectural lines. process, say that they are satisfied with the also vigilant of their work and will stand According to Bajracharya, the findings en- committee’s work so far. “Even though I against any misconduct,” says Shrestha. dorse the fact that the building was built refused to be a part of his official team, in line with Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy. the chairperson himself comes to me for From The Kathmandu Post

Rebuilding Nepal 29 FROM THE PRESS

Nabin Luitel

Though the National Reconstruc- tion Authority (NRA) suggested retrofitting the partially damaged houses after the April 2015 earthquake, the public is still unaware of it. Only 10 percent out of 62,000 beneficiaries under retrofitting list has signed agreement for grants. Anil Maharjan of Godavari Municipality in Lalitpur does not know much about retrofitting. “I have heard the terminology of retrofitting but I don’t understand the real meaning,” he said. Ratna Keshari Deshar of Godavari Municipality-11 is also unaware about retrofitting. Not only the ordinary people but also the elected representatives are unaware of the retrofitting concept. The elected representatives of local bodies in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts admit that they don’t have sufficient knowledge about retrofitting. An- jana Devi Madhikarmi, deputy mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Bhakta- pur, said that she does not have enough knowledge about retrofitting. “I have heard that retrofitting makes old houses stronger,” she said. “Majority of people who received grants are unknown about retrofitting.” Krishna Prajapati, chairman of Ward no 7, complained that no budget was given to his ward for retrofitting. Ganga ram Dangol, chairman of Ward No 7 and Rajendra Maharjan, member of Ward No 3 of Kirtipur Municipality, also admitted that they were not aware about about retrofitting. “Not enough knowledge about ret- Photos: hakahakionline rofitting has been shared,” said Ma- harjan. “It is necessary to repair damaged or cracked houses to make them worth living.” Though retrofitting is Why are more people not necessary, it has not been used due to lack of knowledge, said Muna Adhikari, deputy mayor of Godavari Municipality. “I repaired my house but I do not have knowledge of retrofitting,” she said. retrofitting their home? Darshan Bista, chairman of Ward No 10, said that the stakeholders are de- prived of Rs. 100,000 grant for retrofit- Earthquake resistant capacity, beam, pillar, foundation ting. “It is costlier sometimes,” he said. “There is lack of technical knowledge.” and floors are studied before retrofitting. Manohar Ghimire, NRA information officer, said that retrofitting is a

30 Rebuilding Nepal FROM THE PRESS

It costs higher to build a new house but old house can be revived by spending some money to retrofit.

method of repairing damaged or cracked houses to make them safe and worth living. According to him, the list of retrofitting beneficiaries includes 61,891 households. Among them, only 11,473 households have signed agreement till now, he said. Technical engineer Bimala Dangol, who was assigned under NRA in Goda- vari Municipality, said that there are five grades of retrofitting from 1 to 5. “Only grades 1, 2 and 3 can be retrofitted,” she said. “If one can manage the cost up to 30 percent, retrofitting is recommended for damaged or cracked houses. It can take two to six months to retrofit a house.” It costs higher to build a new house but old house can be revived by spending some money to retrofit, she said. “If it exceeds 30 percent of cost, building new home is better. It should be able to withstand the earthquake.” Dangol suggests that one should construct only two story building with earthen wall. The construction of new buildings instead of retrofitting for cultural homes has been also found dam- aging the traditional values, the experts worry. “We felt that the villages are los- ing their originality.” Another technician Jina Shrestha said that stone-mud houses also can be retrofitted. “Cement, rod and wires can be used for jacketing them,” she said. According to the NRA, each of the retrofitting beneficiaries gets Rs. 100,000 in two installments, each of Rs. 50,000 as per the recommendation from need to study on vulnerability assess- isting methods in some cases. The avail- the engineers. ment before retrofitting as per the con- able material in local areas can be used NRA information officer Manohar dition of houses,” he said. in rural areas while cement and rod can Ghimire said that the stakeholders are Earthquake resistant capacity, beam, be used for retrofitting in urban areas. attracted to grants of Rs. 300,000 for pillar, foundation and floors are studied. new houses instead of retrofitting. “We Retrofitting can be adopted by using ex- From hakahakionline.com

Rebuilding Nepal 31 NRA UPDATE

Photos: NRA Town Hall meeting in Dolakha Grant in recommendation of local governments Private housing reconstruction of 70 percent of the grantees in Dolakha has started, while that of 59 percent has completed.

32 Rebuilding Nepal (From left) Sagar Mani Pathak, Chief District Officer of Dolakha, Kalika Pathak, Deputy Mayor of Kalinchowk Rural Municipality, Kamala Basnet, Deputy Mayor of Bhimeshwar Municipality and Nirmal Darshan Acharya, Chief of District Level Project Implementation Unit (Grant Management and Local Infrastructure), Dolakha.

Dolakha: Chief Executive Officer of Darshan Acharya said the reconstruction the National Reconstruction Authority work is going on well in areas with less (NRA) Sushil Gyewali has said that the problems, and that there are 2,300 griev- earthquake-affected people recommended ances that are yet to be addressed. He by the local governments will be enlisted said, “To complete the remaining works as beneficiaries and will be provided the of reconstruction, we will move ahead by government grant for private housing re- identifying the issues and finding the solu- construction. tions.” At a town-hall meeting organized in According to the DLPIU, the grant Charikot, Dolakha, on December 2, he agreement has been signed with 63,487 said the earthquake-affected people left households in Dolakha of which 61,529 out in the previous survey would be resur- households have received their first veyed and enlisted as beneficiaries at the tranche. Private housing reconstruction recommendation of the concerned Wards of 70 percent of the grantees has start- and local governments and that all the ed, while that of 59 percent has com- grievances would be redressed. pleted. “Engineers at concerned local gov- At the program, local elected repre- ernments will do the resurvey, the Wards The NRA needs to sentatives raised issues such as delay in ad- will make recommendations and then the conduct a re-survey dressing grievances, totally damaged hous- Mayors and the Chief Administrative Of- es being listed in the retrofitting list, the ficers of local governments will make rec- to ensure the appeal procedure being tardy, problems of ommendations, and we will enlist them as availability of the those who made house in the land of their beneficiaries,” said Gyewali, requesting the government grant relatives, and though there had been poli- people’s representatives not to recommend cy-level decision on multi-ownership there names on the basis of the people’s party to everyone. The had been problems in its execution. affiliation. local government Deputy Mayor of Kalinchowk Rural He also said that the NRA was always is ready to take the Municipality Kalika Pathak said that it is ready to empower local governments to necessary that local governments become solve the issues of the earthquake-affected responsibility. clear about their rights so as to make re- people and requested the elected represen- construction more effective, because peo- tatives to stay away from fake details. “The –Mana Maya Jirel ple have not received the allocated money elected representatives should also play an Deputy Chief, District as some issues are not clear. important role to stop the trend of misus- Coordination Committee, Deputy Mayor of Bhimeshwar Munic- ing the government money,” he said. Dolakha. ipality Kamala Basnet requested the NRA Chief District Officer Sagar Mani to take initatives on rebuilding the temples, Pathak said it had been difficult to deter- shrines, and paths and roads as well. mine whether an individual owned any house have been left out, they should get The elected representatives of local house in another place or not due to lack the the grant, but those doing the wrong governments, engineers, representatives of clear and integrated records on property, will be punished by the state,” he said. of non-governmental organizations, earth- and added that the citizens should also be Dolakha district chief of District Level quake-affected people, stakeholder com- responsible on this matter. “If those who Project Implementation Unit (Grant Man- munity related to reconstruction, among are eligible to get grants to construct the agement and Local Infrastructure) Nirmal others, were present at the function._

Rebuilding Nepal 33 NRA UPDATE

PM lays foundation of Dharahara

Prime Minister and Chairperson of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Steering Committee KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of historic Dharahara amidst a function here on De- cember 27. The historic tower at the center of Kathmandu had crumbled in the April Photos: NRA 2015 earthquake. Addressing the function, PM Oli laud- Sushil Gyewali said that the NRA would sary to complete the reconstruction in time. ed the NRA’s efforts in the post-earth- provide all necessary support to recon- Acting Secretary of the NRA Mukun- quake reconstruction and said the reconstruct the historic tower but informed that da Prasad Niraula welcomed the guests struction of historic structures will be it would not compromise on its quality. while the director of GIETC-Raman JV, done to maintain its originality as well as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan the contractor firm, Ram Mahato vowed represent the modern technology. City Bidyasundar Shakya also said that the to complete the reconstruction in the Chief Executive Officer of the NRA KMC would provide all the support neces- scheduled time.

34 Rebuilding Nepal NRA UPDATE

NRA organizes photo exhibition The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) organized a three-day photo exhibition from December 26 to 28 to mark the third year completion of its establishment at the Nepal Art Council gallery. Inaugurating the exhibition, Chief Executive Offi- cer of the NRA Sushil Gyewali said that the exhibition had been organized to highlight the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities of the last three years. Saying that there is a plan to establish a museum within the Dharahara premises after its reconstruction, Gyewali said that the collection of photos, videos and audio will not only help understand various aspects of the April 2015 earthquake but will also be a good way to share the knowledge and experience with the future generation. The exhibition, organized in association with the Photojournalists’ Club, was supported by the Europe- an Union. The exhibition included about 100 photographs depicting the immediate aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake, the activities highlighting the post-earthquake reconstruction and the NRA’s achievements in the past three years.

Photos: PJ Club

NRA

Rebuilding Nepal 35 NRA UPDATE School building handed over in Ramechhap Ramechhap: The building of Shree Gaurishankar Secondary School in Ra- mechhap has been handed over to the School Management Committee and Ramechhap Municipality after its reconstruction was completed. The director of the National Re- construction Authority’s Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Educa- tion), Im Narayan Shrestha, handed over the keys of the school, reconstructed with support from USAID and ADB, to School Management Committee Chairperson Pabitra Shres- tha and Mayor of Ramechhap Mu- nicipality Nar Bahadur Thapa Magar amidst a function held on December 4. The school, jointly inaugurated by Chief Executive Officer of the NRA Sushil Gyewali and US ambassador to Photos: NRA Nepal Randy Berry, was reconstruct- in the education quality. schools damaged by the earthquake ed at the cost of Rs. 1,120.8 million. US ambassador Berry said that he had been fully reconstructed, 2,500 Altogether, 677 students study at the felt honored that the US government, schools were being reconstructed, and school. Nepal government and the local com- remaining school reconstruction would At the handover program, CEO munity together built the safe new be completed in all areas without prob- Gyewali expressed happiness over the school and expressed confidence that it lem in the coming year. completion of the reconstruction of would help to produce additional hu- Principal of the School Nir Baha- the school damaged by the earthquake man resources required for the country dur Shrestha informed that although and thanked everyone who supported in the coming days. the earthquake caused massive damage, it. After the development of the infra- Director of CLPIU (Education) Im the reconstruction work was completed structure, he requested to pay attention Narayan Shrestha informed that 4,000 by taking it as an opportunity. Land ownership certificate handed over to 19 landless households

The National Reconstruction Au- receive a housing grant of Rs. 300,000, thority (NRA) has provided plots to con- the government’s private housing grant struct houses to 19 landless families of provided to all the earthquake-affected Sindhupalchok district. households. Chief of Development Assistance Likewise, Pokharel met with Tirtha Coordination Section of the NRA Dib- Bahadur Shrestha, chairperson of Ward yaraj Pokharel handed over the land no. 8 of Chautara Sangachokgadhi Mu- ownership certificate at a function orga- nicipality in Sindhupalchok, and dis- nized in the district headquarters Chau- cussed operation of community training tara on November 16. Out of 42 ropanis of land provided center constructed in Ikhu in the Ward The NRA procured 42 ropanis and 7 by the NRA, 4 ropanis and 7 aana will be as per its objective. ana land in Shellang, Ward no. 1 of Jugal used for roads and each household will Meanwhile, there has been agree- Rural Municipality and handed that over get 2 ropanis each. ment to handover District Agriculture to the 19 landless households. The land The NRA provides Rs. 200,000 to Office’s building as soon as possible in was procured at the cost of Rs. 3.8 mil- purchase plots to landless people and Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality lion from locals Janak Bahadur Tamang to beneficiaries who want to shift from that was being used by the municipality and Jare Tamang. the vulnerable areas. After that, they to the respective office.

36 Rebuilding Nepal NRA UPDATE Private housing reconstruction within current fiscal year Chief Executive Officer of the Na- tional Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali has expressed his com- mitment to complete the reconstruction of private houses within the current fiscal year. He informed a meeting of the De- velopment Committee of the Federal Parliament on November 28 that the reconstruction of 77 percent of the houses whose grant agreements had been signed had begun, and that the construction of 45 percent of that had already been completed. He said that the deadline for reconstruction of houses of beneficiaries who came through grievance hearing, who are moving to integrated settlements, who are living in traditional settlements, where He presented progress details of re- by the local governments. settlements have been moved, and the construction of educational institutions, Most MPs who spoke at the meeting construction of houses of the vulnerable health centers, government offices, secu- commented that the progress of the re- communities will be as determined by the rity agencies, and heritage sites, and said construction was satisfactory and also NRA Executive Committee. that all the reconstruction work would be requested to advance works according to CEO Gyewali requested those who completed within the remaining two-year the presented action plans. have already taken grants but have not tenure of the NRA. MPs Jeep Chhiring Lama, Gaurish- started reconstruction works to complete Secretary of the NRA Arjun Kumar ankar Chaudhary, Ganesh Pahadi, Kedar their house reconstruction soon, and Karki said that there is no problem in Sigdel, Yayga Raj Sunuwar. Ram Bahadur those who submitted fake details while identifying genuine earthquake-survivors Bista, Bina Kumari Bista, Mahendra Ray taking grants to return the money within left out previously and such earthquake Yadav and Anil Jha, among others, spoke mid-January 2019. survivors would get the grants if verified at the meeting.

Local govts to get responsibility and resources for developing integrated housing plans for up to 99 households

The National Reconstruction Au- ing plan for up to 99 families is ap- have not had agreements and benefi- thority (NRA) has decided to hando- proved. ciaries who have had agreements but ver the responsibility of developing The settlements with more than have not started the private house re- integrated housing plans of up to 99 100 families will be implemented construction are on the eligibility list. households to the local governments. through the DLPIU under the De- The beneficiaries who are not earth- The NRA Executive Committee partment of Urban Development. quake affected can also be included in meeting held on November 15 ap- The guideline mentions that the the plan, but they will not be eligible proved the Integrated Housing Devel- integrated housing plans will be de- for additional grants on infrastructure opment Guideline, 2018. The guide- veloped with priority to the earth- construction and house construction. line mentions that the grant amount quake-affected people. The beneficia- Chief Executive Officer of the will be provided to the local govern- ries living in the vulnerable areas, ben- NRA Sushil Gyewali has said the new ments with conditions through the eficiaries of vulnerable groups, land- provision would help in the settlement District Level Project Implementation less beneficiaries, beneficiaries listed management and infrastructure devel- Unit (DLPIU) after the infrastructure after grievance hearing, beneficiaries opment by bringing together the scat- plan is approved for integrated hous- of private housing reconstruction who tered houses at one place.

Rebuilding Nepal 37 NRA UPDATE Housing Reconstruction Revolving Fund effective in Gorkha The earthquake-survivors mobile ipality have already taken such cred- receiving second tranche to prevent fund operated by Aarughat Rural its so far for house construction. any irregularity in the borrowed Municipality in Gorkha district has The Rural Municipality lends amount. been effective. A fund with Rs. 1 mil- Rs. 100,000 to the beneficiaries who The guideline has a provision to lion has been set up targeting those have taken the first tranche but have stop all services, facilities, recom- who have not been able to rebuild not been able to advance house con- mendations and documents from the their houses even after taking the struction due to financial constraints Ward and Rural Municipality offices first tranche due to financial prob- until they receive the second tranche. if the borrowed amount is not re- lems. The beneficiaries will return the turned. Chairperson Dahal informed Aarughat Rural Municipality has amount to the Rural Municipality that such issue had not come so far. approved a strategy for the opera- after they lay the foundation of the Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipal- tion of the mobile fund. Very poor, house and receive second tranche ity has also approved a guideline to Dalits, single women, helpless, peo- from the NRA. operate a mobile fund like that of ple living with disabilities and vul- Beneficiaries will have to take Aarughat Rural Municipality. The nerable households lacking human recommendations from their ward Rural Municipality has allocated Rs. and financial resources can borrow chairpersons to receive credit from 900,000 for the fund. up to Rs. 100,000 from such mobile the mobile fund. The ward chairper- Chairperson of Shahid Lakhan fund to reconstruct their houses. sons will have the responsibility to Rural Municipality Ramesh Thapa There will be no interest on such collect the money from the benefi- Magar has informed that the amount credit. ciary who has taken the recommen- would be provided as per the demand Chairperson of Aarughat Rural dation from them, informed Dahal. of the beneficiaries as the guideline Municipality Purna Bahadur Dahal Dahal said the Rural Municipality had already been approved. said the mobile fund has been amaz- has coordinated with the local bank Likewise, Gandaki Rural Munic- ingly effective. According to him, 27 to make recommendation from the ipality is also preparing to launch persons from Aarughat Rural Munic- ward chairpersons mandatory while such mobile fund.

Federalization of reconstruction

The National Reconstruction Au- of the Reconstruction District Coordi- from the NRA should be employed thority (NRA) has decided to sign nation Committees in earthquake-af- only in the reconstruction works; the agreements with all the local govern- fected regions from December 7 to NRA can arrange to provide a lump ments in earthquake-affected districts review reconstruction and sign agree- sum budget with conditions to the to handover responsibilities related to ments with the local governments. municipalities and rural municipalities the post-earthquake reconstruction. The paper prepared for agreements for local infrastructure projects to be The Executive Committee meeting between local governments and the executed from local governments such of the NRA held on December 5 de- NRA mentions that engineers, sub-en- as monasteries, and integrated settle- cided to sign separate agreements with gineers, assistant sub-engineers and ments; municipalities/rural municipal- the concerned local governments to masons will be deployed as required ities will prepare and execute local re- make the reconstruction works timely in the municipalities and rural munic- construction action plan and the NRA and more effective. ipalities, and the municipalities/rural will provide necessary support on this. The reconstruction work is going municipalities will have the responsi- The agreement paper consists of on in 272 local governments in 32 bility of administrative activities such 11-points including the point that if earthquake-affected districts. Before as employing all human resources de- any complexities and problems arise this, the NRA had signed separate ployed from the NRA in reconstruc- in the course of executing reconstruc- agreements will all the local govern- tion works, and keeping their attention, the NRA and the municipality/ ments in Kavrepalanchowk. dance records. rural municipality will reach a mutual The NRA has also decided to orga- Likewise, the agreements will men- understanding and proceed with the nize review programs and call meetings tion that the human resources deployed works.

38 Rebuilding Nepal NRA UPDATE

Photos: NRA Disaster Risk Management Practice Manager Christoph Pusch of the World Bank met Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyewali on November 14 and discussed the ongoing private housing reconstruction project. The World Bank is one of the largest partners in the post-earthquake housing reconstruction.

A delegation of National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) met NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali November 29 and discussed the NDI’s support in the NRA’s communication campaigns. Peter Manikas, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Asia Programs, of NDI led the delegation. Also present in the meeting were Ivan Doherty, NDI’s Global Director of Political Party Programs, Deborah Healy, NDI’s Senior Country Director for Nepal Program, and Bidushi Dhungel of NDI’s Nepal Program.

Rebuilding Nepal 39 NRA UPDATE

NRA The beginners

A bustling township of Singati in antries and posed for photos. and wooden house that we bought for Dolakha made history when the govern- Singati, the epicenter of the earth- Rs. 75,000 fell down in the earthquake. ment decided to begin its private housing quake on May 12, 2015, had barely four It also took all our belongings.” grant for post-earthquake reconstruc- concrete houses left after the massive He and his wife, Chitra Kumari tion from there. And, the first person earthquake. But now, hundreds of hous- Khatri, 77, had some savings in the who signed the agreement on March 13, es have been rebuilt in Singati and has bank. Thus, they didn’t borrow any 2016 to receive the government grant of once again become a bustling township money from elsewhere and managed to Rs. 300,000 in three tranches was Jagat which is the business center of three vil- rebuild their house at the cost of Rs. 1.5 Bahadur Khatri, now 78. lage councils – Bigu, Gaurishankar and million. Chief Executive Officer of the Na- Kalinchowk - in Dolakha. He knows he has made a history as tional Reconstruction Authority Sushil And, Khatri is one of those who has the first signatory of the government’s Gyewali, who had handed over the cer- rebuilt his house where he runs a con- private housing grant. “The government tificate to Khatri during his earlier stint venient shop. team wanted to sign agreements with as the CEO, visited Khatri on December “We came down to Singati from first 10 people from Laduk,” he said. 2. The latter was pleasantly surprised to Laduk village in B.S. 2050 (1993) to make “And, being the oldest among them, I see Gyewali and both exchanged pleas- a living,” recalls Khatri. “The mud, stone got the opportunity to sign it first.”

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NRA is also publishing a Nepali bi-monthly ‘Punarnirman’. You can obtain the copies from the NRA office.

For all matters related to the National Reconstruction Authority www.nra.gov.np A majority of houses in Singati of Dolakha, the epicenter of the earthquake on May 12, 2015, have now been reconstructed.

For more information:

National Reconstruction Authority Singh Durbar, Kathmandu Ph: 01-4211482, 01-4211465 | Fax: 01-4211473 Helpline: 1660-01-72000 (NTC) | 9801572111 (NCell) Mail: [email protected] www.nra.gov.np

National Reconstruction Authority

@NRANepal

Editorial Team: Pitambar Ghimire, Manohar Ghimire, Bhuwan KC, Dipak Sapkota, Kul Prakash Neupane Editorial Advisor: Kosmos Biswokarma

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This news magazine is published with support from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, NDI/USAID